Washington Capitals: Alex Chiasson still an option
By Ron Juckett
With a roster spot available, the Washington Capitals could bring back forward Alex Chiasson. An affordable player who provides good defense.
The Washington Capitals did not try to keep Alex Chiasson from hitting unrestricted free agency.
The move made sense. John Carlson’s fate remained a mystery and how much room DC had with the salary cap was an unknown. Although Chiasson played in 16 Stanley Cup playoff games, his last came in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay.
A healthy scratch during the Finals, Chiasson’s future with the Caps hung on the wall. But, as there is still a roster spot open on the team heading into the new season, was Washington hasty?
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With the Caps since early October, Chiasson found his way into 61 regular-season games. A bottom-of-the-roster winger, he managed nine goals and assists for 18 points. Not bad for a forward averaging 11:46 in ice time a night.
Chiasson made the most of his shots, scoring on 15.3 percent of his attempts. He filled in on both the power play and shorthanded. A man down, he scored once while assisting two others.
He can lift a stick and steal pucks. Credited with 29 takeaways, Chiasson gave it away 16 times. He dished out checks when needed, 57 on the tally sheet with 29 blocked shots. For under a million bucks, those are not bad numbers.
But, as he approaches 28 this fall, Chiasson never realized his potential.
Drafted by Dallas in the second round in the 2009 Draft out of Des Moines in the United States Hockey League, Chiasson played three seasons with Boston University in the tough Hockey East. A smart decision as in his last year he tallied 15 goals while assisting on 31 in 38 games.
Chiasson’s one primary year playing for Texas in the AHL watched him score 13 and help with 22. A quick call up at the end of the 2012-13 season saw six goals scored over seven games.
That was his high watermark. After 2013-14, Chiasson was traded to Ottawa. Two years later, Calgary. When Washington signed him, he was an unrestricted free agent.
For his positives, Chiasson cannot win faceoffs to save his life. Last season, he won 11 out of 41. A 26.8 winning percentage gets you nowhere.
But, after Tom Wilson’s eventual extension, the Washington Capitals have the salary cap room and an open spot if they need a veteran player. Alex Chiasson knows the system and held his own. Since no team wants him, his return is worth considering.